BOWLING FOR WOMEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 August 1940, Page 9

BOWLING FOR WOMEN

(To the Editor). Sir, —The Carterton Bowling Club is to be congratulated upon the progressive spirit displayed in the move to follow the rest of the bowling world in providing facilities for women to enjoy this grand old game. Bowls provide an ideal means for the enjoyment of healthy, inexpensive outdoor sport and exercise by modern harassed housewives who are past the tennis stage. England has over 12,000 affiliated members, and in this Dominion the numbers are growing rapidly season by season, the South Island being particularly strong. The Otago Centre alone can count over 800 women bowlers, and with Canterbury making rapid strides, it has been possible to hold a ladies' championship tournament during each of the past two seasons. These tournaments have been well supported by rinks from Palmerston North, Feilding, Wanganui. Napier, Hastings and clubs further north.

That such a town as Masterton lags behind is to be regretted, and it is a pity that apparently old age dims mental vision as well as optical. This may be due to a mistaken idea that the use of bowling greens by women entails the mixing of the sexes in the games. This is not so. In mixed clubs the ladies are restricted to certain greens or rinks, and specified hours, and the New Zealand Bowling Council prohibits them having any voting power or control. It is a curious fact that most annual reports contain glowing accounts of the services rendered to clubs by ladies’ committees, and attribute any social success to such committees, but the members thereof are not considered worthy enough to do more than throw up the “jack” on opening day. Upon investigation it will be found chat clubs possessing a ladies’ section also enjoy the soundest financial position, a better environment, and a fuller social life for their members. For all said and done, bowling is still the finest social game of all games. The writer's advice to all ladies desiring a healthy outdoor exercise, combined with mental relaxation, under ideal conditions, is to get behind the movement of bowls for women. They, and the clubs will never regret it. —I am, etc.,

—PROGRESS. Masterton, August 29.